Safety cigarette rest



Oct. 25, 1960 J. CEFALDE 2,957,479

SAFETY CIGARETTE REST Filed Dec. 2, 1959 INVENTOR JOSEPH GEFALDE ATTORNEY BY WW United Patent 2,957,479 SAFETY CIGARETTE REST Joseph Cefalde, 29 Millet St., Youngstown, Ohio Filed Dec. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 856,794

g 3 Claims. (Cl. 131-257 The present invention relates generally to improvements in ash trays for smokers use and more particularly to an ash tray embodying a new and novel holder for a burning cigarette or cigar of the automatic and heat responsive tiltable-type employing a bimetallic spring element.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, it has previously been proposed to provide a holder for burning cigarettes or cigars which comprises a tray and a spiral spring of bimetallic material that is responsive to the heat of the burning end of a cigarette or cigar. The arrangement is such that when the burning end of a cigarette or cigar engages or approaches the bimetallic spiral spring the tray is pivoted upwardly to discharge the cigarette or cigar into an ash receptacle. While the obvious safety features of such apparatus have long been recognized these holders have remained more or less a novelty item due mainly to the fact that once the tray is tilted the cigarette or cigar is either completely discharged into the ash receptacle or the burning end of the cigarette or cigar is caused to abut and remain against a supporting surface. In either event the cigar or cigarette is extinguished and in many cases a substantial unconsumed length thereof is wasted.

It is accordingly the primary or ultimate object of the present invention to provide a safety ash tray wherein a cigarette or cigar is automatically and slidably moved inwardly over the ash receptacle as the same is consumed and where the burning end of the cigarette or cigar is maintained in substantially free overhanging relation at all times during the use thereof. As will be hereinafter more fully apparent, this is accomplished by providing a new and novel mounting fixture which is adapted to be engaged by the burning end of a cigarette or cigar and support the same until the tiltable tray and the bimetallic spiral spring have returned to their original positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a smokers safety ash tray which is adapted to automatically remove the loose and excess ashes from the burning end of a cigar or cigarette. In this manner the cigarette or cigar is always ready for immediate use without the necessity of removing the ashes therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety ash tray of the type above described which is adapted to automatically and completely discharge a cigarette or cigar into the ash receptacle after the same has been consumed to such an extent that only a small end portion thereof remains.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a holder for a cigarette or cigar which is adapted to be attached easily and quickly to almost any type of ash receptacle.

A still further object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the character above described which is highly simplified in construction-and manufacture but yet is readily adapted for sustained and continuous usage.

The above, as well as other objectsand advantages, will become more fully apparent upon consideration of the following specification and accompanying drawing wherein there are disclosed certain preferred embodiments constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a fragmentary plan view of a holder for a burning cigarette or cigar attached to an ash receptacle and constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side sectional view taken along the section line 1111 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an end view of a second embodiment of a holder for a lighted cigarette or cigar constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side sectional view, similar to Figure 2, depicting yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, and initially to Figures 1-3 thereof, the reference numeral 10 designates a deeply dished ash receptacle which may be formed from a ceramic material and which is adapted to be placed in nesting relation in a supporting base 11. The supporting base 11 is fabricated from a wire mesh 12 into the shape of a generally rectangular open ended box and is suitably reinforced by longitudinally and transversely extending structural rods. Adjacent each corner of the supporting base is a leg 13 which receives on the outer end there of a resilient cover cap 14. Rigidly attached to one longitudinally extending side of the supporting base 11 is a member 15 that is also formed from the wire mesh 12 and which defines a receptacle for a pack of cigarettes or the like. The wire mesh 12 may be plated while the ash receptacle 10 is preferably tired or otherwise treated to provide a high luster finish whereby the overall appearance of the ash receptacle 10 and the supporting base 11 is pleasing and decorative.

Rigidly attached to at least one end of the supporting base 11 is a transversely extending strap 16 of the wire mesh 12 which provides a pair of transversely spaced and vertically extending apertures 17. These apertures are adapted to removably receive a pair of transversely spaced and vertically depending end leg portions 18 of a mounting fixture 19. The mounting fixture 1? is generally U-shaped and comprises, in addition to the pair of vertically depending and transversely spaced leg portions 18, a pair of transversely spaced and generally elongated longitudinally and inwardly extending side portions 20 and a U-shaped end portion 21 which, as will be observed in Figure 2 of the drawing, is inclined outwardly and downwardly with respect to the longitudinally extending side portions 20 and the center of the ash receptacle 10. By way of example, the U-shaped end portion 21 may be inclined downwardly and outwardly at an angle of thirty degrees with respect to the longitudinally extending side portions 20. The mounting fixture 19 is prefer ably formed from rod stock and is particularly important in accomplishing the objects of the present invention as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Spanning the side portions 20 of the mounting fixture 19 adjacent the vertically depending leg portions 18 is a transversely extending support member 22. The support member 22 is rigidly attached to the mounting fixture by the turned ends thereof engaging the side portions 20 and serves as a support for the tray as will be later described. Each of the side portions 20 has a small transversely extending aperture 23 therein intermediate the vertically depending leg portions and the outwardly and downwardly inclined U-shaped end portion 21. Received in each of the apertures 23 is a small diametered and laterally projecting shank portion of a a headed pivot pin 24. The enlarged ends of the headed pivot pins 24 extend transversely toward each other from the side portions 20 of the mounting fixture and provide, in essence, a pivot means for a spiral spring 25 that is formed from a strip of bimetallic material. The enlarged ends of the headed pivot pins 24 are approximately the same size as the internal diameters of the convolutions of the spiral spring 25 whereby this latter element is journaled for rotational movement but other movements thereof are prohibited. As will be hereinafter more fully apparent, such a mounting limits the distorting movement of the spiral spring to an unwinding action when the same is heated. The enlarged ends of the pivot pins 24 have relatively short axial lengths whereby they do not absorb or transfer the heat from the burning end of a cigarette or the spiral spring and the burning end of a cigarette is adapted to be disposed adjacent the open center portion of the spiral spring.

The bimetallic spiral spring 25 is provided with a pair of elongated longitudinally and outwardly extending end portions 26 and 27. The end portion 26 is slightly longer than the end portion 27 and extends outwardly from the bottom of the coil of the spiral spring over the trans versely extending support member 22. This end portion 26 is loosely and removably placed in overlying relation on the transverse support member 22. The other and shorter end portion 27 projects outwardly from the top of the coil of the spiral spring 25.

A tray 28, which is preferably fabricated from sheet metal by stamping, for example, has a pair of depending extensions 29 at the forward end thereof that have apertures therein and which define a clevis in such a manner that the tray is pivotally mounted by the transversely spaced pivot pins 24. The tray 28 further comprises a pair of transversely spaced and vertically extending inwardly tapering side walls 50 and a downwardly and inwardly inclined upper wall 31 that is transversely curved to provide an elongated and longitudinally extending channel 33 which is adapted to receive and support a lighted cigarette or cigar. The inner end of the channel 33 is curved outwardly and transversely at 34 whereby the center convolutions of the spiral spring 25 are exposed while the outer end of the upper wall 31 is extended by a tab portion 34 to provide an extended support for a long cigarette or cigar. It will be noted that when the tray 28 is in its initial position shown in Figure 2 of the drawing the outer edges of the side walls 30 rest on the transverse support member 22 while the outer end portion 27 of the spiral spring 25 underlies the upper wall 31 of the tray 28. The pivot pins 24 are of substantially the same diameter as the diameter of the convolutions of the spiral spring 25 whereby the spiral spring is loosely mounted therearound and the tray 28 is mounted for vertical pivotal movement about the pivot pins 24.

Considering now the operation of the apparatus above described, it will be assumed that a freshly lighted cigarette is positioned in the channel 33 of the tray 28 with the burning end thereof directly overlying the convolutions of the spiral spring 25. As the burning end heats the spiral spring 25 the bimetallic material in the latter begins to distort in an unwinding action. Since the end portion 26 overlies and is supported on the transverse support member 22 this end portion may not move downwardly but the end portion 27 presses upwardly on the tray 28 and pivots the same from the position shown in Figure 2 of the drawing to the position depicted by the broken lines in Figure 5. As the tray 28 is tilted the gravitational pull on the cigarette causes the same to slide down and the burning end thereof will abut against the downwardly and outwardly inclined U- shaped end portion 21 of the mounting fixture 19. It will be noted that at this time the burning end of the cigarette is disposed in generally normal abutting relation with respect to the U-shaped end portion 21. Since the burning end of the cigarette is of substantial distance away from the spiral spring 25 this latter element will cool and contract in a relatively short time interval whereby the tray '23 will be pivoted downwardly to its initial position. At this time the burning end of the cigarette will be disposed above the U-shaped end portion 21 of the mounting fixture 19 and forwardly of the spiral spring 25 in overhanging relation with respect to the ash receptacle.

As the cigarette continues to be consumed the burning end thereof will again be disposed adjacent the spiral spring 25 which causes the same to be heated and the tray 28 to again be tilted upwardly. The cigarette again slides downwardly into engagement with the downwardly and outwardly inclined U-shaped end portion 21 and any loose ashes on the end of the cigarette are removed therefrom when the cigarette slides and abuts against the U-shaped end portion 21. Then, since the lighted end of the cigarette is disposed inwardly of the spiral spring, the spiral spring again cools and contracts to return the tray 28 to its initial position.

The above described series of operations continues intermittently until only a small portion of the cigarette is unconsumed. When the burning end of the unconsumed end portion again is adjacent the spiral spring 25 the tray 28 will be pivoted upwardly to a much greater extent than in the previous operations due to the fact that the unconsumed portion of the cigarette has relatively little weight and cannot overcome the frictional resistance between the cigarette and the tray 28. Thus, the lighted end of the cigarette is positioned adjacent the spiral spring 25 for a much longer period of time whereby the tray is pivoted upwardly to a much greater extent. Eventually the small unconsumed end of the cigarette may slide downwardly but the pivoted angle of the tray 28 is such at this time that the burning end of the cigarette does not engage the U-shaped end portion 21 of the mounting fixture 19 but rather passes completely below the same and into the ash receptacle 10. Thus, the small unconsumed end portion of the cigarette will slide vertically and downwardly into the ash receptacle through the space between the U-shaped end portion of the mounting fixture and the spiral spring 25 due to the substantially increased angle of pivot for the tray 28. In some cases the frictional resistance will be such that the small unconsumed end of the cigarette will remain on the tray with the burning end of the cigarette adjacent the spiral spring 25 until the tray has flipped completely over or is pivoted through an angle of approximately one hundred eighty degrees. In either event the result is that the small unconsumed end portion of the cigarette is automatically discharged into the relatively large ash receptacle 10 with complete safety whereby the same may be extinguished. It should be apparent that the final discharge of the burning cigarette into the ash receptacle takes place only when a small unconsumed end portion remains and that at all other times the cigarette is supported in a safe manner with the burning end thereof over the ash receptacle. Also, the cigarette is always ready for instantaneous use since the loose ashes are removed therefrom when the burning end portion thereof forcibly engages the abutment surface defined by the U-shaped end portion 21 of the mounting fixture 19.

Referring now to Figure 4 of the drawing there is shown a second embodiment constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. In this embodiment of the invention a mounting fixture 19 is formed with a pair of leg portions 18' which are disposed in adjacent side-by-side vertically extending relation. The arrangement is such that the leg portions 18 may be received in a single aperture 17 provided by a strip 16' attached to one end of the supporting base 11. This is advantageous in that fabricating and manufacturing costs are reduced. In all other respects the safety ash tray of Figure 4 is similar to that shown in Figures 1-3 and like reference numerals have been used to designate the same component parts in these figures of the drawing.

In some cases it may be desirable to attach the improved holder of the present invention to the side of an ash receptacle or other member without providing the base structure 11 or the transversely extending strap 16 defining the apertures 17. For this purpose the arrangement shown in Figure may be employed where the holder is provided with integral clamping means. Such clamping means comprises a transversely extending and vertically depending stationary clamping platen 40 which is mounted at the inner edge of the transversely extending support member 22. Spanning the spaced leg portions 18 of the mounting fixture 19 adjacent the top edges thereof is a clamp support 41 having an internally threaded aperture intermediate the ends thereof which receives threaded clamping bolt 42. Carried at the inner end of the clamping bolt 42 is a movable clamping platen 43. The arrangement is such that a vertical member 44, the side edge of a conventional ash tray, for example, is adapted to be rigidly clamped between the clamping platens 40 and 43 upon proper manipulation of the clamping bolt 42. In this manner the holder for a cigarette is firmly but removably mounted on the supporting element 44. By providing a holder with the clamping means as shown in Figure 5 of the drawing it is possible to adapt conventional ash trays with the holder of this invention.

It should be apparent that I have accomplished the objects initially set forth. However, since many changes may be made in the illustrated embodiments of the invention without departing from the true scope or intent thereof, reference should be had to the following appended claims.

I claim:

1. A safety rest for a cigarette or the like comprising a generally longitudinally extending tray, said tray defining a longitudinally extending supporting surface for receiving a cigarette or the like, means pivotally mounting said tray at one end thereof, a heat responsive extensible bimetallic element positioned adjacent said one end of said tray for pivoting the same vertically when said element is heated by the lighted end of a cigarette or the like, a downwardly and outwardly inclined abutment surface positioned in fixed predetermined inwardly spaced relation with respect to said one end of said tray and said element, and the spacing between said abutment surface and said one end of said tray and said element being such that when the lighted end of an elongated cigarette or the like is disposed adjacent said element, said tray is pivoted vertically to allow the cigarette or the like to move downwardly until its lighted end engages said abutment surface and thereafter said element cools to return said tray and the cigarette or the like supported on said tray to their initial generally horizontal positions.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a mounting fixture, said mounting fixture comprising a pair of longitudinally extending and transversely spaced side portions and a U-shaped end portion, said tray and said bimetallic element transversely spanning said side portions outwardly of said U-shaped end portion, and said U-shaped end portion defining said abutment surface.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a supporting member spanning said side portions outwardly of said bimetallic element, said supporting member providing a support for the other end of said tray, said element comprising a coil of bimetallic strip having a pair of end portions, one end portion of said coil extending outwardly in underlying lifting relation with respect to said tray, and means to limit movement of the other end portion of said coil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,244,149 Grantham June 3, 1941 2,644,466 Jennings July 7, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 749,266 Great Britain May 23, 1956 

